Author: Lou, Posted: Thu Mar 7, 2019 1:41 AM, Post Subject: Across the Sands (O)

The Harena was a vast place, filled with a shocking emptiness upon the first glance. Only after further introspection could one see the life that lived there. Standing here on the edge of the great desert, it was difficult for Paradox to take it all in. There were no trees here, no cliffs, shrubs, buildings, or lakes. It was just sand, for the most part, spotted with the occasional plant. The stories said that there were bigger things in the interior, tribes of shapeshifters, animals, even things like elephants. Such the like she'd never seen before outside of a book.

She took a deep breath, taking in as much as she could of the land before her. The warm wind coming off the sand blew through her mane and tail and ruffled her light white blouse. The bright light reflecting off the ground was almost blinding and it stung her eyes too look at it directly or for too long. She'd never been to a desert, never mind have the interest to travel through it. But it was something she hadn't done yet since coming to this world, so she figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to try. She'd heard of people dying in the desert from heat, lack of food and water, and sandstorms, but she hoped her chances were better. She was well prepared and her body held and retained water better than a normal human could. The distance was also in her favor here, as the point of crossing was accomplishable within the span of a few days.

She felt her bardiche strapped securely to her flank, along with several flasks of water and her regular pair of saddle bags. She wouldn't need much for such a quick journey, being there and back in a weeks time or less, hopefully, if the will of the gods were in her favor, as she hoped they be. It'd be a nice change. She looked behind her for a moment, to see the trees and buildings behind her, probably the last time she'd see them for a few days. She doubted it would be the last time, but she still let out a sad sigh at having to turn back to the desert again.

Holding her chin up, she braced herself before striding purposefully into the sand-filled desert. The going here, she could tell right off the bat, was very different than normal. It was like walking on an endless beach with no wet sand to walk on. Her hooves, being hard with a small surface area, sank quickly and easily into the sand up to her ankles with each step. Though necessary, the going was annoying, to say the least, and was much slower going than expected. It was times like these where she wished she could have been born something else, at least normal people could ride camels in such places. Now that would be a sight, to see a centaur riding a camel.  The thought made her smile and she continued to push on through the sands and away from the comforting trees.